Welts and Warfare

Hello faithful followers. Daniel here. A lot has happened since our last blog. Hmm... where to start, well lets start with my birthday. That's right as of this last January 6th, I officially am 21. Wooo Hooo!

Chels is such a sweet heart and took the initiative to plan a paintballing day with all the guys for me. We went to SC Village in Chino Hills bright and early. We were there from 7a.m. till 4p.m. LONG DAY, I know, but it was so awesome. I had so much fun and I know all the guys did too. I was running around in an awesome hunting Gillie suit Chel bought for me for a birthday present. For those of you who don't know what that is, its a camouflaged outfit that is supposed to really blend you in with nature. If you ask a few random people that were there that day, they'll probably say they saw a big bush running around the entire day. Ha ha. I was so grateful to all my friends that went, they are such an awesome group of guys. So after an eventful day we ended up tired, full of welts and our God given manly desire to fight was satisfied.

Christmas has come and gone...

It amazes me that all the anticipation that leads up to Christmas day can come and go so fast. I think Christmas should be celebrated all year around. Yeah, it's nice we have a designated day to be with family and friends to celebrate the birth of Jesus, but Jesus is worth a celebration all year long! And then as soon as Christmas ends, we start anticipating for the next event coming; New Years! It's still hard for me to believe that we are already approaching 2010. It feels like it was just the other day we were counting down to 2009. Like I've said many times before; time just seems to fly by so fast and it's so easy to get caught up in the 'hectiness' and fast pace to life. That is why I think it is important to just slow down sometimes and really appreciate the moments.

Anyways, Daniel and I had a wonderful Christmas Eve and Christmas. We spent Christmas Eve at his parents house with all of his family. There were about 32 people there. We had a great time. The next day (Christmas day), we spent with my family. My mom made a delicious brunch, then we all went to see the movie Sherlock Holmes. It was a pretty good movie, but definitely has it's slow moments. And to be honest, I actually even dozed off for about 10 minutes. First time ever doing that in my life in a movie theater. The ending was good though. Speaking of movies, have any of you seen the movie Avator yet? It is Daniel's new favorite movie and he can't stop talking about it, haha. Anyways, later that day, Daniel and I drove up to Big Bear Mountain to spend the weekend with his family, cousins, aunt and uncles and one of his aunt's cabins. It's a gorgeous cabin! And the snow was beautiful! We went sledding on Saturday, which was so much fun! Just getting the chance to spend time with family is a huge blessing and I've learned you can't take it forgranted.
Hope you all had a wonderful and blessed Christmas! :)
Here's some pics from Christmas:

It's Almost Christmas...

Good morning, it's Saturday and as I laid here in bed, it struck me that I am probably the worst 'blogger' possible. When I started this blog, I really thought to myself that it would be an easy daily task to get on here and update you all. But I realize I have probably left many of you with sheer disappointment after checking to 'keep up with the Carrolls' and realizing there hasn't been too much to keep up with. Who knows, maybe no one even reads this thing besides our parents and a few of our close friends. So for whoever may be reading this; I apologize, yet once again, for my lack of commitment to this blog.

I realize I have yet to bring this blog to life. But like I have said before, I am going to try to do a better job of 'blogging'... this I promise you. This needs to be somewhat of my journal, it's so easy to go through our daily routines and forget about the experiences we have faced that day or just the works God has been doing in our lives. A blog; or a journal; is definitely a keepsake we all should strive to have. And it's always fun to read back on them and sort of re live the moment in a sense.

Anyways enough of that; so what has been happening since my last entry of 'forever ago'. Well, Daniel and I are still home in Cali. The weather has been gorgeous, sandals and a tank top in December; only in California. We have really just been enjoying our time here with family and friends. But as usual around this time of the year; Decemberish; Daniel and I start craving the baseball season again. We are both just so excited for this next baseball season. We've had a couple of rough last 2 seasons (with injuries, slumps, moving around...) but even though it is hard to say- I honestly don't think I would have traded it for anything. During a time, there would have been no way I would have even been able to utter those words from my mouth. I mean, yeah, it would have been nice to just have had healthy easy seasons and just enjoyed the ride; but we would have missed out on the lessons the Lord has showed us and taught us and the way He's worked in our hearts through these situations. It's been rough and was definitely a huge struggle at times. But I realized how big the God we serve is! And I've only seen a glimpse of it; WOW!

Daniel and I were recently blessed to be able to go the PAO (Pro Athletes Outreach) Conference held in Texas. It is sort of like a 'retreat setting' where major league and minor league players, as well as their spouses come together and are able to have just awesome fellowship and hear amazing studies. We even got to meet Josh Hamilton and his wife (which I'm not going to lie; Daniel and I were kinda star struck at first), but they were so down to earth as well as so many other of the 'well known' players there. I have so much admiration to see these players using the pedestal they have through baseball to make a stand for the Lord. There are no words to describe the impact that ministry is having on so many people who are able to be apart of it. We were beyond blessed. And each and every one of the teachings we heard was impacting and moving and definitely touched our hearts deeply. It definitely left us with a refreshing feeling going into the next baseball season.

I think the biggest lesson we've learned through baseball throughout these last couple years that Daniel and I have been striding on together is that; ultimately God is in control. And His kingdom needs to always be our ultimate goal. It's so easy to get caught up in the 'baseball scene' and let our sole focus be only on 'moving up' in the minor league system and making it to the big leagues. But the reality of it is that it can all be taken away in an instant and what matters in the end is the impact we make for Christ. I feel so refreshed having that mindset going into this next baseball season; it gives me so much peace and I praise God for the hard lessons it took for us to learn that. So that's my heart and I'm excited for the journey the Lord has ahead of us.

Thank you so much for the constant prayers I know many of you have had for us, we truly covet them beyond words.Anyways, I am most likely not going to get on here before Christmas, so I want to conclude this by wishing you all a very Merry and Blessed Christmas!

I want to leave you with a quote from Max Lucado's book 'A Love Worth Giving To You',
I know it's kind of long; but it's so REAL and such a huge reminder to be thankful for the true meaning of Christmas. Its says:

"Consider the gift for a moment, what Jesus really did. He swapped a spotless castle for a grimy stable. He exchanged the worship of angels for the company of killers. He could hold the universe in His palm but gave it up to float in the womb of a maiden. If you were God, would you sleep on straw, nurse from a breast, and be clothed in a diaper? Christ did. If you knew that only a few would care that you came, would you still come? If you knew that those you loved would laugh in your face, would you still care? If you knew that the tounges you made would mock you, the mouths you made would spit at you, the hands you made would crucify you, would you still make them? Christ did. Would you regard the immobile and invalid more important than yourself? Jesus did. He humbled Himself. He went from commanding angels to sleeping on straw. From holding stars to clutching Mary's finger. The palm that held the universe took the nail of a soldier. Why? Because that's what LOVE does. It puts the beloved before itself. Your soul was more important than His blood. Your eternal life was more important than His earthly life. Your place in heaven was more important to Him than His place in heaven, so He gave up HIS so you could have YOURS."

Life is Good

I know... I know... there has been another pretty big gap between my last posting and now. I am not very good at keeping up with this blog, as I am sure many of you have concluded. Anyways, Daniel and I have really been enjoying our 'off season'. It's refreshing to be able to spend time with family and friends again. And boy, has time flew? Sometimes I look back and am not even quite sure what our days have consisted of, but time sure does seem to be going by fast. We have already been home for a little over 2 months now and only have about 2 1/2 months left. Whew! Well like I said, we have been keeping busy. Daniel recently got a part time job at Staples and has also been doing private hitting lessons as well as coaching a little league team. As for me, I am currently working for my dad's business, Dove Glass & Mirror, doing receptionist type work for him. It's been nice.
Taking a break from our busy schedules, we were able to visit our good friends Stacie & Jared in Summerland this past weekend. And we also got to see Daniel's brother, Ryan and cousin Jordan this weekend in Santa Barbara. We had such a blast with them! Stacie is a wonderful hostess! I've known Stacie now for probably a little over 4 years and she is such a joy to be around. She was also one of my bridesmaid. She is a dear friend and we were so blessed to spend time with her and her husband. They have the cutest apartment in Summerland with an ocean view! It was such a treat! And it is always so good to see Ryan and Jordan too! We had such a wonderful time!
Well I better wrap this up.. I have some things I need to get done. Oh, the joys of being an adult and having responsibilities. Ha ha. Just kidding. Life is good and the Lord is so great and always faithful, I have so much to be happy about and praising Him for! :)

Be blessed!

Brangelina

This past Saturday, Daniel and I went as Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie to Daniel's uncle's costume party. We bought the little kids clothes from the goodwill store. My mom helped me stuff the clothes and sew them up and we printed out the real faces of Brad and Angelina's kids and glued them on. It was a hit at the costume party and we even took home the award for Best Costume :) We had alot fun.

Twenty-One!

I am now 21! My birthday was October 8th and my husband really is so amazing and gave me the best birthday ever! So I have to share: Well on my birthday, I was awoken to breakfast in bed. Then Daniel told me he had the day planned out and to get ready because we were going to DISNEYLAND! He knows I love Disneyland and it had been awhile since we had gone, so it was perfect. We spent pretty much the entire day there, then had dinner at the Rainforest Cafe in downtown Disney. That night, he told me my birthday would continue tomorrow, but I had to wait because it was a surprise. So the next day, Daniel said he had to leave the house at 11 to get some things done for my birthday. I really had no idea what he was up to. He just told me that his sister would come to pick me up at 1 and that I would need to be ready. So his sister, Meagan, arrived right at 1:00 and greeted me with a rolled up paper tied with a bow. Little did I know, this would be my 'first clue' to a very elaborate scavenger hunt that Daniel made up for me. Each clue had a very creative riddle, and this first one directed me to go to the 'store of the age I am'. The answer being Forever 21 (my favorite store). There I was told I would need to speak the people at the register in order to get my next clue. I did, then received my next clue that told me I had to come up with the craziest outfit I could, try it on, and take a picture before the girls at the register could give me the next clue. So I did, I found a fur vest with a leopard dress and red hat and took a picture. Ha ha. I was then able to receive my next clue. The girl at the register handed me another rolled up paper and also a little Victoria Secret's bag. The clue instructed me to open the bag, where I would find a gift card and I had to take it to VS and purchase something Daniel had already picked out before being handed over the next clue. Once I did that, the next clue directed me to leave the mall to go get a massage at Massage Envy (the massage was a gift from my parents- so thank you Mom & Dad). His sister then dropped me off to get my hour massage, which was amazing! After the massage, the guy at the receptionist desk at Massage Envy handed me my next clue. I was told I would be picked up by a 'surprise person' and that we had to go to a place where they have 'Pazookies'. Answer being: BJs Brewery. So as I was waiting to get picked up, I looked out the window and saw that Daniel had arranged for my friend Ashley to pick me up! I hadn't seen her in awhile so it was so good to see her! We then carried on our way to BJs where Daniel instructed us that we had to go to the bar in order to get the next clue. Once seated at the bar, the bartender handed me a shot of tequila (which Daniel had already ordered and bought for me) that I had to take before getting the next clue. I was very hesitant to take it.. but was told that I would not receive the next clue until I did it. Ha ha. Daniel is crazy. So I took it, but not in a shot. It took about 3 'not very enjoyable' sips before I could finish it. But I did, and then got my clue that had a crossword puzzle on it that Daniel made up that I had to complete before it revealed the next clue. The next clue instructed that I had to go buy a pack of starburst candy from somewhere and bring 21 startburst to his parents house in exchange for my next clue. Once at his parents and after handing them the starburst, his mom handed me a clue and then carried out this big bowl of whip cream, ice cream, sprinkles and I'm not even sure what else, but the clue told me I had to dig through that bowl in order to find my next clue. So I did and pulled out the next clue, which was in a zip lock bag, and that clue directed me to go to his old bedroom to find the next clue. In there, I found my last and final clue, which included a gift card, that told Ashley nd I to go get pedicures and to meet him at the house afterwards. So around 7:50ish at night, we headed back to the house where I was greeted by a SURPRISE PARTY that Daniel had thrown for me! He even had a fog machine and strobe light and party streamers everywhere. It was amazing! And it was so wonderful to see everyone there! It was such a wonderful day and Daniel went above and beyond then I could have ever imagined. I am so grateful for him! I love him so much!! So I had to share with all of you how wonderful, creative, and amazing he is. I am blessed :)

Cali Bound

WOW, I can't believe its been over a month since my last entry!! I apologize once again :(

So lets see.... alot has happened since my last entry: For one, we are now back in California! Our road trip back here from Iowa was alot of fun for us. Even with our car being packed to it's full capacity. Our first day we drove about 7 hours and stopped in Lincoln, Nebraska for the night. It was very relieving to get out the jammed packed car and take a rest that night. We had dinner at a 'mid-west' favorite, Cracker Barrel. And even took time to relax in the hotel jacuzzi before calling it a night. The next morning we slept in a little, then went on our way. We decided our next stop would be in Colorado (which is pretty much the halfway point from Iowa to Cali). My cousin Abby and her husband live out there, so we were able to stay with them and spend alot of time we them. Daniel and I even got to catch a Rockies game while we there. Colorado is absolutely beautiful! I loved it there! Heading out the next day was the most beautiful drive of all. We went through the Rockie mountains and listened to worship music and spent time praying and thanking God for His amazing creation! I'm so guilty of taking it forgranted. It was really eye opening and a very refreshing reminder of His beauty. That night we stayed near the border of Utah and Nevada. Finally, the next day we neared our destination of sweet ol' Moreno Valley, California. We made it home around 4 in the afternoon and felt a sense of relief after that long drive. It was a very memorable experience and drive for the both of us. And fortunately, we were able to make it all the way cross country without a single speeding ticket or car problems (thank you Lord). I must admit, Daniel did most of the driving. Hey, I had done plenty of driving following the bus during the baseball season, this was my time to relax and kick back Ha ha. Anyways, so we've been home for about a month now and have really been enjoying all the time we've been able to spend with family and friends. Job wise: I am currently working for my dad's business and Daniel has been helping coach little league games and has been giving private hitting lessons to some of the young boys. So we've been keeping busy. It's nice to be home :)